PHOTOS: Egypt on edge, 36 killed in prison break bid

PHOTOS: Egypt on edge, 36 killed in prison break bid

The Muslim Brotherhood struggling for its existence in Egypt accused security forces of carrying out "cold-blooded" murder after at least 36 Islamists were killed while they tried to escape from a prison convoy.

Initially, the interior ministry said the detainees died in an exchange of fire after some of them took a military officer hostage and a convoy of prison vehicles, transporting a total of 612 detainees to Abu Zaabal prison in Qalyubia province, was attacked by unidentified gunmen.

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Image: A supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi holds up his photo while standing at the top of lamp posts during a march to show solidarity with his supporters in Egypt, in SanaaPhotographs: Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters

Egypt on edge, 36 killed in prison break bid

But later the ministry said the prisoners died from the effects of inhaling tear gas, which was fired when the escaping detainees took a police officer hostage. He was freed, but was badly injured, the military's statement added.

"Thirty-six of the prisoners died of suffocation and crowding after tear gas was used to stop their escape," the ministry said.

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Image: A supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi shouts slogans against the military and interior ministry during a protest in front of Al Istkama mosque at Giza Square, south of CairoPhotographs: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Egypt on edge, 36 killed in prison break bid

In a statement, the Anti-Coup Alliance said it had "obtained evidence of the assassination of anti-coup detainees in a truck transferring them to Abu Zaabal prison". "They were reportedly assassinated in their truck with live ammunition and tear gas fired from windows."

"The murder of 35 detained anti-coup protesters affirms the intentional violence aimed at opponents of the coup, and the cold-blooded killing of which they are targets," it said in a statement in English.

Egypt on edge, 36 killed in prison break bid

General Sisi deposed Morsi on July 3, saying that the army could not ignore the millions of protesters who had been demanding the resignation of Egypt's first democratically elected president.

More than 866 people, including 70 police and soldiers, are reported to have been killed since Wednesday when security forces cleared two Cairo sit-in camps set up by supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi since his ouster on July 3. They were demanding the return of ousted president.

More than 1,000 Brotherhood members have been detained in raids since Wednesday, with security sources saying about 300 were held in several cities on Sunday, including Cairo, Alexandria, Assiut and Suez.